Question, Kevin:
If like you say "The Tray goes out after an hour or so" and you say " I can light the tubes in my mod and forget it and it'll burn to ashes even without nuking the pellets", Why not just go with the one way that it works for you.
I believe Amazing Smoker even says that the "Tube is supposed to be used for Larger Smokers or Smokers used at Higher Altitudes".
I hate to see people forced to use Mods, but if that's what you gotta do, that's what you gotta do.
Bear